|
The Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP) at DBHDS provides a monthly news digest to highlight resources, events, and trainings that may be of interest to self-advocates with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families.
Each year, DBHDS notifies Virginians on the Waiting List ("the Waitlist") for Home and Community-Based Services Developmental Disability Waivers (DD Waivers) about the Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP), and other services and supports that may help you while you wait for a DD Waiver. The IFSP sends this message out via email and the postal mail. We expect to send it in the coming weeks, so please be on the lookout for it in your inbox or in your mailbox! This message will contain the following information:
- A link to the IFSP Annual Satisfaction Survey,
- Dates for the upcoming IFSP-Funding cycle, and
-
The updated IFSP: First Steps document (current version here).
On Monday, August 12th, you may have received an email from the IFSP about draft revisions to the guidance document DD 07 The Individual and Family Support Funding Guidelines (FY2024) on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall. You can read that message here. If would you like to submit a comment on these draft revisions, the comment forum is open until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11th.
As always, for additional information about services and supports, please visit mylifemycommunityvirginia.org.
Thank you,
The IFSP Staff
| |
If your contact information changes (e.g., your email and/or mailing address), please remember you can contact your CSB and/or Support Coordinator to update it in WaMS! By doing this, you will be able to receive important information about the resources you or someone else are eligible to receive while on the Waitlist. | | |
|
We know many of you are eagerly anticipating details about our next funding cycle. The IFSP will share an announcement with official dates in the coming months. While we finalize the specifics, our goal is to begin accepting applications in October 2024. | |
|
IMPORTANT: Were you approved for IFSP funds that were issued in April 2023 and/or December 2023? If you were awarded funds during these funding cycles, you must register your card and withdraw your funds as soon as possible. Please read this announcement for that information.
Reminder: All Funding updates will be sent via this mailing list and posted on our My Life, My Community IFSP-Funding Page.
| |
-
Enhancing Independence through Assistive Technology (AT) Expo: Last month, we asked you to save the date for our FREE resource and networking expo on Thursday, Sept. 26th — now, let us know if you're coming to Weyers Cave! We hope you'll join us, our presenters from the Assistive Technology Network of Virginia, and other panelists and exhibitors working to provide AT in their communities! Try out AT devices and tools, then meet people with DD who have used AT, other self-advocates, families, and IFSP Council members. All ages are welcome! This event will be in person, but a virtual option is available. Space is limited, so save your spot. If you have questions about this event, please email us at IFSPCommunity@dbhds.virginia.gov.
| |
You can register and check back for updates on our My Life, My Community expo page! | | |
|
-
Understanding and Preparing for Independent Living: We are sharing the video and slides from our July Coordinated Regional Council meeting featuring Marie Fraticelli of the DBHDS Housing Team! Watch the video, grab our slides, and be sure to check out the resources linked in Marie's presentation.
| |
-
Peer Mentoring Program: Peer mentors at The Arc of Virginia are ready to meet you and help you achieve your goals! Learn more about the program and eligibility requirements at The Arc. For questions, email Natasha Cooper at ncooper@thearcofva.org.
| |
-
Family Mentoring Program: Getting support from someone who's been in your shoes can make a difference! Learn how the Family to Family Network at the Center for Family Involvement can help.
| |
Welcome to our IFSP Council Corner! This section in the IFSP Digest debuted in our Feb. 2024 issue, and will contain items submitted by our Regional Councils. This month, we are highlighting an item from our Central Regional Council. | |
Administration for Community Living (ACL) | |
-
Improving Support for People with Mental Health Conditions and Other Disabilities: The author of this ACL.gov blog post, who is a person with a disability, begins by sharing a brief personal story about the mental health system after experiencing a mental health crisis. This story is one example of why the creation of The Link Center is so important! The Link Center is led by four national organizations providing I/DD, mental/behavioral health, and brain injury services and focuses on building partnerships and facilitating information-sharing across systems. Read the blog post to find out how else The Link Center works to ensure that people with co-occurring disabilities can live in their communities, and how their work might already have an impact where you live.
| |
DBHDS Office of Integrated Health Supports Network (OIHSN) | |
August 2024 Newsletter Highlight | Read OIHSN's August 2024 newsletter for more on this article, their ABA snippets, and their App of the Month! | -
Common Medical Emergencies: OIHSN shared a little about medical emergency preparedness last month in their July newsletter. This month, they share a decision tree process that you can use to recognize a health-related change and quickly get someone the help they need.
| |
September 2024 Caregiver Training | -
Skin Integrity & Pressure Injuries: Tuesday, Sept. 17th from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register here.
| |
Opportunities, Events, and Resources for Professionals, Self-Advocates, and Families | |
Virginia Department of Health (VDH) | |
-
Virginia Community Conversations: Our Facebook followers might have seen us share this VDH focus group opportunity for caregivers of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN)! Your input will help impact Virginia's future direction for maternal and child health programs. In-person and virtual focus groups are available; in-person session participants will be provided food and a $30 gift card, while virtual session participants will receive a $20 gift card. Please note that space for both types of sessions is limited, and registration is required! You can register here. For questions, please contact titlevmch@vdh.virginia.gov.
| |
Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) | |
-
2024-2025 School Year Virtual Student Pre-ETS Activities: Each month this school year, students can join DARS to participate in free virtual activities themed around important topics that can help them prepare to transition to adulthood! The next session takes place on Tuesday, Sept. 3rd. (There are 10 sessions total, with each session taking place on the first Tuesday of each month, except for November 2024) Each general session will run from 6:30 to 7 p.m. and can be joined through this Zoom link. Sessions for students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing will run from 7:30 to 8 p.m. and can be joined through this Zoom link; ASL and captioning will be provided at these sessions. For questions, please contact TransitionTeam@dars.virginia.gov.
| |
LEAP (Leadership and Empowerment for Abuse Prevention) | |
-
Webinar: Fostering Healthy Relationships and Preventing Abuse: Did you miss this free healthy relationship webinar in June? Your next chance to join LEAP is on Thursday, Sept. 19th at 10 a.m.! Disability support staff, family members, and friends are encouraged to attend. You'll gain strategies to empower people with disabilities to form healthy relationships and avoid abuse – something that is especially important for people who are at a higher risk for unhealthy relationships and experiencing abuse than their non-disabled peers. View the flyer to register and learn more about the agenda and presenters.
| |
Parenting Special Needs Magazine and The Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University | |
-
Family Live Chat: Helping Your Anxious Child: Looking for strategies to that can improve the quality of life for anxious children with I/DD and autism? Consider attending this free Family Live Chat on Tuesday, Sept. 24th at 8 p.m. You'll hear strategies from a clinical psychologist and get a chance to ask questions from other parents and professionals. Visit this link to view the flyer and register. For questions, please email Chantai@parentingspecialneeds.org.
| |
UVA STAR (Supporting Transformative Autism Research) | |
-
Online Mental Health Support for Autistic Adults with Intellectual Disability: STAR is looking for adults with autism between 18 to 55 years old to participate in a study about the effectiveness of online mindfulness-based mental health therapy program for autistic adults with intellectual disability and mental health concerns. The therapy program will be free! Eligible participants must also live with an adult who would be willing to complete the online therapy program as their partner. Each pair will attend mindfulness sessions over Zoom, practice skills, and complete questionnaires. Both participants and their partners will each receive up to $150 for completing all questionnaires and sessions. This opportunity is ongoing until Saturday, November 30th. To learn more, view the flyer and email star-research@virginia.edu to ask about the initial eligibility survey.
| |
Virginia Department for Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) | |
-
It's My Right! Pocket Card: We've shared some information about supported decision-making (SDM) in the past, and are excited to share that It's My Right! pocket cards are now available! These cards help you tell others about your right to make decisions and why it's important for people to listen to you. Use this link to print the card and an additional letter from your home!
| |
Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) | |
-
preETS.vcurrtc.org: Earlier this month, DARS and VCU RRTC collaborated to launch a new resource, the Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) website! Teachers and professionals supporting students with disabilities can find tools, publications, and webcasts that will help them empower their students to achieve successful postsecondary outcomes.
| |
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) | |
-
2024 Assessments: VBPD's latest service area assessments for Virginians are in! VBPD's first report reviews current emergency preparedness practices in Virginia and provides recommendations for how to make those practices more inclusive for people with disabilities. Their second report examines how information about the disability services system is managed and provided for people with disabilities and their families; VBPD also provides their recommendations for how to improve the management of this information. Read both reports (and past years' reports on other topics) at this link.
| |
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) | |
-
Blueprint for Change: If you read VBPD's report on the information ecology of the disability services system in Virginia, you might want to take a look at MCHB's Blueprint for Change! Created in 2022, this national framework addresses the needs for an improved system of services for children and youth with special health care needs so that they can enjoy full lives and thrive in their communities. Anyone can be part of this initiative, and can use this framework to move closer toward the shared vision of improving the services system.
| |
COVID-19 Information and Resources | |
While the IFSP has done our best to share information on COVID-19 resources, this information is not a substitute for medical advice. Stay up to date and visit virginia.gov/coronavirus. | |
|
-
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) launched a COVID-19 toolkit for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The toolkit includes tip sheets for caregivers and providers, and is also available in Spanish. Find it here!
| |
We recognize that navigating the developmental disability system can be hard for families. Not sure where to start? Read our “IFSP: First Steps” guide to learn about the IFSP program at DBHDS and other important resources, supports, and services offered in the Commonwealth of Virginia! Visit https://tinyurl.com/IFSP-FirstSteps, or use your mobile device to scan the QR code here. | |
|
Thank you for reading the IFSP Digest! | |
|
IFSP is always looking for more newsletter recommendations! What organizations would you like to see featured? What should we subscribe to? Please send your suggestions to IFSPCom@dbhds.virginia.gov.
If you liked the information in this digest, give us a follow on Facebook by clicking the icon below! To receive updates about events in your community, also follow your regional IFSP Council’s Facebook page. (Not sure which region you're in? Find out on My Life, My Community!)
| | | | |
